ArcBest Launches Revolutionary Freight Movement Technology

Vaux™ freight movement technology transforms intralogistics processes, creating efficiencies that move supply chains forward.

FORT SMITH, Ark., March 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ArcBest^® (Nasdaq: ARCB), a leader in supply chain logistics, today announced the launch of Vaux™, an innovative suite of hardware and software that modernizes and transforms how freight is loaded, unloaded and transferred. Vaux enables the entire contents of a trailer to be unloaded in under five minutes and offers complete visibility into freight movement within warehouse facilities, on the dock and over the road. It creates extreme efficiencies and orchestrates seamless warehouse operations.

"As a customer-focused logistics company, we are aware of the supply chain challenges our customers face related to freight handling inefficiencies. The environment isn't the same as it was even ten years ago, and we have heard from our customers that they need a solution," said Judy R. McReynolds, ArcBest chairman, president and CEO. "In many of our customers' warehouses, the traditional way of loading and unloading trailers one piece at a time is impacting their supply chains. With Vaux, our innovation teams have developed solutions to address these challenges, allowing transformation in the way freight moves."

The Vaux Freight Movement System™ consists of the Vaux MP™ and MP Coupler, which enable freight handling operators to load and unload full trailers rapidly. They connect seamlessly into warehouse operations through the Vaux OS™, a suite of proprietary software that includes warehouse orchestration, operator fulfillment and MP Tracker.

The Vaux MP is a highly customizable mobile freight platform that fits inside a trailer. It is moved into and out of a trailer and around a warehouse using a standard forklift equipped with an MP Coupler, which is a patented device that enables a standard forklift to move the MP safely. The MP is moved out of the trailer in one swift movement, alleviating the need for multiple forklifts to enter trailers to work freight and reducing touches and damage and improving working conditions. The MP Coupler allows for a tight turn radius, enabling freight handling operators to move MPs to the optimal location in the warehouse — relieving dock congestion and allowing for efficient loading and unloading. With 360-degree access, freight handling operators can perform swarm processing, pulling product from the MP in seconds and entirely unloading in minutes.  

The Vaux OS software stack integrates with existing warehouse management systems (WMS) to orchestrate movements and assign tasks based on work prioritization. Its tracking capabilities offer unprecedented visibility into operations. The Vaux OS gives warehouse supervisors real-time insights into freight moves, enabling better decisions that improve dock utilization, reduce costs and impact sustainability.

"The level of speed, efficiency and visibility Vaux offers is game-changing for companies facing supply chain challenges such as congested docks, damage, throughput issues and a need to operate more sustainably," said Michael Newcity, chief innovation officer at ArcBest and president of ArcBest Technologies. "Consider what this means for shippers with hundreds of trailers to load and unload each day. The ability to pull an entire shipment off a trailer in one movement is groundbreaking. And with customizable Mobile Platforms, those with freight that can't be stacked can now move fully loaded trailers for a more sustainable operation. Not to mention the efficiency gains the software offers."   

ArcBest began piloting Vaux in 2019, aiming to improve freight handling, reduce damage and improve working conditions in its own facilities. The company is now partnering with customers across various industries, including manufacturing, automotive and retail, to continue testing and learning in those environments.

To learn more about Vaux freight handling technology, visit https://arcb.com/technology/vaux.     

ArcBest^® (Nasdaq: ARCB) is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that helps keep the global supply chain moving. Founded in 1923 and now with over 15,000 employees across more than 250 campuses and service centers, the company is a logistics powerhouse fueled by the simple notion of finding a way to get the job done. Through innovative thinking, agility and trust, ArcBest leverages its full suite of shipping and logistics solutions to meet customers' critical needs, each and every day. For more information, visit arcb.com.

Media Contact: Autumnn Mahar
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 479-494-8221

SOURCE ArcBest